Electric flash light



Nov. 17, 1931.4 G. KUHN 1,832,563

ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT Filed DSC. 2,' 192'?` '2 Sheets-Sheet l @w WMgyn/vento@ NOV. 17, 1931. G KUHN ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT Filed Dec. 2 19272 Sheets-Sheet S11/vento@ Geo/ye /fl//WL @Hoz my Patented Nov. 17, 1931UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE KUHN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT FCOLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR T0 KUHN-WHITE LABORATORIES, INC., OIE1 BALTIMORE,MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT Application.fusa Decembr 2, 1927. .serial No. 237,265.

The present invention relates to improvements in flashlights, wherebythe light may be projected at various anglesgto the normal axis of theflashlight casing. Generally speaking, the invention consists inconstructing the casing in two sections, the battery being housed in oneof the sections, and the lamp being disposed in the other, and providinga joint between the two sectlons so that they may be in alignment, ormay be adjusted to various angles relative to each other, connectionsbeing provlded between the two sections which are operative 1n anyangular relation of the lamp.

The joint between the two sections is, 1n 1ts preferred form, what maybe termed a swivel miter joint, and while the sections may be mostconveniently given an angle of fortylive degrees (45) at their junctionso as to to enable them to swing relatively from alignment to arectangular position, or vice versa, it is to be understood that I donot necessarily confine myself to this arrangement.

Without going further into the general aspects of the invention I shallproceed to describe'it with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein, although various embodiments are: possible, two generallyrepresentative forms are illustrated.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of theinvention with the axes of the two sections in alignment.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same embodiment looking from the leftof Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side: elevation of thesame embodiment with the axes of. thetwo sections at right angles to each other.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a movable switch element.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the same'.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a second general embodiment of theinvention with the axes of the two sections in alignment, and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the second embodiment with the axes atright angles to each other.

Referring now to the drawings, the Hashlight casing comprises upper andlower tubular sections 11 and 12, Figures 1 to 4, whose adjacent endsare truncated at an angle of forty-live degrees to the horizontal, thisangle, as mentioned above, being the most appropriate as giving the bestrange of adjustment; As shown in Fig. 1, these angles are insupplementary relation, while in Fig. 3 they are in complementaryrelation. It is desirable that the abutting edges of sections 11 and 12be circular, so that they will be in register with each other at allpositions of adjustment. Conseguently, these sections are made in theform o cylindroids, or, in other words, their lateral surfaces arecylindrical surfaces having a common vertical generatriX, and a circleinclined forty-tive degrees (45) to the horizontal as directrix. To viewthis structure in another light, the casing comprises two similarcylindroidal sections, each truncated at a suitable angle to its axis toform circular abutting ends.

The lower margin of section 11 is provided with an outward bead 13, andthe edges 14 are spun inwardly in parallel relation to the 'plane oftruncation to retain a disk 15, of suitable insulating material, with'its peripheries in bead 13. Disk 15 is centrally and downwardly dishedat 16. Similarly, section 12 is provided with bead 17, in which issecured the peripheries of a centrally and downwardly dished insulatingdisk 18 by means of spun-over edges 19.- The dished portion of disk 15is nested in the Ilarger dished portion of disk 18. It should bementioned here that while members 15 and 18 have been referred to asdisks, they need not necessarily be in this form, since their functionis merely to serve as strut elements which are swivelled togetherv toconnect sections 11 and 12.

A contact strip 20, bent in substantially triangular form to'bring itsfree ,end 21 into the horizontal, is secured at its other end in thedished portion of disk-15 by means of a rivet 22. A contact strip 23 issecured to the bottom of the dished portion of disk 18 by of forty-fivedegrees (45) to the axis of means of a rivet 24, the free end 25 ofstrip 23 being bent into the horizontal. The two disks and the twocontact strips are secured together by a hollow rivet or pivot pin 26,of electrically conductive material, at the exact center of the circularabutting section ends. Thus, it will be seen that section 11 may beturned relative to section 12 about rivet 26, and that the latter willalways maintain contact strips 2O and 23 in electrical connection.

A further contact strip 27 is secured to the A lower face of disk 18 bymeans of a rivet 28. This contact strip has a lower horizontalintermediate section l29, and an upper hori zontal end section 30, whichlatter lies substantially in the plane of end 25 of contact strip 23.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 6 to 8, 31 is a 'sector-shaped plate etinsulating material with a radial projection 32. Set in the lower faceof plate 31 is a radially extending contact strip 33 having arms 34 and35 passed up through apertures in the plate and bent over on top of thelatter. Plate 31 and contact element 33 are pivotally connected to end25 of contact strip 23 by means of a rivet 36. Projection 32 passesthrough a circumferentially-extending slot 37 formed in a depression 38in the casing wall so that its end is .within the main boundaries of thewall. By suitable movement of projection 32, contact element 33 placesend 30 of contact strip 27 into or out of electrical connection with end25 of contact strip 23.

A battery 29 is disposed in section 12 and secured therein by a cap 40,which, in the usual manner, is in electrical connection with one of thebattery poles and with the conductive walls of section 12., The otherbattery pole 41 is in contact with section 29 of contact strip 27.

A reflector 42, supporting a lamp 43, has marginal flanges 44 adapted torest on the upper edges of section 11. The reflector is surmounted by alens 45, and both of these elements are secured to section 11 by anannular cap 46 engaged with section 11 by means of det-ents 47 and 48.The central contact of the lamp rests on section 21 of contact strip 20.Reflector 42 is of conductive material, as is likewise section 11,electrical connection being established between the latter and section12 through the contacting flanges 14 and 19, so that through theseelements and cap 40 a circuit is completed to the contact shell of thelamp.

According to Figs. 9 and 10, the lower section 49 of the casing has atits upper end what is in elect a semispherical enlargement 50 with itscircumference at an angle otion 49. The upper section in this instanceconsists of a semi-spherical portion 51 provided with a neck 52, inwhich is mounted a lens 53. The circumferential plane of portion 51 isat right angles to the central axis of neck 52. The other details ofconstruction may be generally similar to those described in connectionwith Figs. 1 to 8, and, consequently, need 'not be enlarged upon here.The effect is exactly the same as was described in connection with thefirst embodiment, in that the circumferential edges of semi-sphericalelements 50 and 51 will always be in register. If desired, section 5lmay be fitted with more than one lens, the two or more lenses beingadapted to selectively project different colored rays.

From the above, it will be seen that I have provided a. flashlight ofextremely simple structure and adapted to various uses. The describeddevice may be used as an ordinary flashlight with the sectionsrelatively disposed, as in Figs. 1 or 9, or, with the parts relativelydisposed as in Figs. 3 and 10; the device may be used as a reading lampor the like, cap 40 being designed to serve as a supporting base. Ofcourse, any angular arralpgement intermediate those shown is possi le.

While I have necessarily shown specific embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that many modifications are possible within thelimits of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a hollow elongated casingcomprising two sections. the abutting ends of said sections beingbiased, the margins of said abutting ends having peripheral beads, disksperipherally engaged in said beads, and a central swivel connectionbetween said disks.'

2. In a device of the class described, a hollow elongated casingcomprising two sections, the abutting ends of said sections beingbiased, a strut element of insulating material secured across each ofsaid abutting ends, an electrically conductive central swivel pinconnecting said strut elements, an electric battery in one of saidsections. an electric lamp in the other, and connections between saidbattery and lamp, said connections including said swivel pin.

3. In a device of the classl described, a hollow elongated casingcomprising two sections, the abutting ends of said sections beingbiased, a strut elment of insulating material secured across each ofsaid abutting ends, an electric battery in one of said sections, contactmeans on the adjacent ystrut element forming a connection with one poleof the battery, an elec trie lamp in the other of said sections, contactmeans on the other strut element forming a connection with said lamp,and an electrically conductive swivel pin connecting said strut elementsand connecting said contact means.

4. In a device of the class described, atubular casing comprising twocylindroidal seetions, said sections each being truncated at an angle toits central` longitudinal axis to form circular abutting ends, a strutelement of in.- sulating material secured across each of said abuttingends, an electrically conductive swivel pin connecting said strutelements, an electric battery in one of said sections, an electric lampin the other, and connections between said battery and lamp, saidconnections including said swivel pin.

5. In a device of the class described, a tubular casing comprising twocylindroidal sections, a battery in one of said sections, a lamp in theother, said sections each being truncated at an angle to its centrallongitudinal axis to form circular abutting ends, a circular closuredisk for each of said ends, said disks having their central portionsdished towardl thevbattery and nested,'and aswivel pin connecting saidoffset portions. y

6. In a hand electric flashlight, a tubular hollow casing comprising twosections, van electric battery in one of said sections, an electric lampin the other of said sections, said lamp section having a light openingtherein, said sections having abutting. ends in planes at similar anglesto planes perpendicular to the axes of said sections, a swivel jointbetween said `abutting ends whereby upon relative rotation of saidsections'about said swivel joint a light beamv may be projected throughsaid light opening at'various angles to the axis of the battery section,and connections between said battery and lamp, said connectionsincluding` a conductive central element `disposed between the batteryand lamp and containedwholly within said casing, and wiping conductiveelements outwardly of said central element and insulated therefrom.

v7. In a hand electric flashlight, a tubular casing comprising twosections connected in one end to end relation, the adjacent ends of saidsections presenting abutting edges with their planes atsimilar angles toplanes of said sections perpendicular to the axes of the sections, saidsections being adapted to be relatively rotatedgabout an axisperpendicular to the planes' of their abutting edges whereby the axes ofsaid sections lare causedto assume different angular relations, abatteryin one of said sections, a lamp in the other of said sections, saidlampsection having a light opening, and connections between said lampand batteg' tive positions of said` sections, said connections includingabutting conductive rings inwardly of the abutting edges of saidsections respectively and a conductive element disposed wholly withinsaid casing between the battery and lamp and centrally of and insu-zlated from said rings.

8. In a hand electric flashlight, a tubular metallic casing comprisingtwo sections connected in end tn and` relation. the adjacent operativeat all relaends of said sections presenting abutting edges with theirplanes at similar angles to planes of said sections perpendicular to theaxes of the sections, said sections being adapted to be relativelyrotated about an axis er- 4pendicular to the planes of the abutting eges whereby the axes of said sectionsare caused to assume dierentangular relations, a battery in one of said sections, a lamp in theother of said sections, said 'lamp section having a light opening, andconnections between said lamp and battery operative at all relativepositions of said sections, said connections including abutting annularflanges integral with the abutting edges of said sections, and aconductive element disposed -wholly within said'casing between thebattery and 4lamp and centrally of and insulated from said flanges.

9. A hand electric flashlight comprising a tubular hollow casingincludin two sections having adjacent ends with e ges lying in planes atangles to planes perpendicular to the axes of the sections, meansswivelly connecting the'adjacent ends of the sections to permit theiraxes to assume various angulari relations upon relative rotation of thesections about their swivelling axis, one of said sections having alight opening and being adapted to receive a lamp, the other of saidsections being adapted to receive a battery, and electrical connectionsentirely within the casing adapted to connect the terminals of aAsections about the swivelling axis, a substantially central-conductiveelement having an expanded plane surfaced portion substantiallyparallelv to the planes of said edges. and a conductor mounted in one ofsaid sections and adapted to'form a wiping contact with said centralconductive'elelnent in all positions of relative adjustment of thesections.

11. A swivel joint connection for two tubular sections of a handelectric flashlight caspendicular to the axis ofthe sections, thesections being connected for swivelling movement about an axisVperpendicular to the planes of their adjacent edges vto permit thestantially central conductive element disposed in the junctional regionof the sections, an insulating disk carried by one of said sections andto which said conductive element is connected, and a conductor mountedon one of said sections and adapted to forni a wiping contact with saidcentral conductive eleinent in all positons of relative adjustment ofthe sections. l0 12. A swivel joint connection for two tubular sectionsof a liand electric flashlight casing, said sections having adjacentedges lying in parallel planes at angles to planes perpendicular to theaxes of the sections, the sections being connected for swivellingmovement about an axis perpendicular to the planes of their adjacentedges to permit the axes of the sections to assume various angularrelations upon relative rotation of the sections about the swivellingaxis, a substantially central conductive element disposed in thejunctional region of the sections, an insulating disk carried by one ofsaid sections and to which said conductive element is con- 5 nected, aconductor mounted on one of said sections and adapted to form a wipingcontact with said central conductive element in all positions ofrelative adjustment of the sections, a lamp support in the other of saidsections, and a lamp contactor element in said other of said sectionsmounted on said disk and in connection with said central conductiveelement.

13. A swivel joint connection for two tubular sections of a handelectric flashlight casing, said sections having adjacent edges lying inparallel planes at angles to planes perpendicular to the axes of thesections, the edges of each section being provided with an 0 innerannular flange lying substantially in the plane of its associated edges,the sections being connected for swivelling movement about an 'axisperpendicular to the planes of the adjacent edges to permit the axes ofthe sections to assume various angular relations upon relative rotationof the sections about the swivelling axis, an insulating disk Within oneof the sections and resting on the flange thereof, and a conductiveelement secured to 5U said disk substantially centrally thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE KUHN.

